Oh, let me count the ways...

I love Napa!
Recap: 3 Simply because...

1. Wine. It flows like water. Life is easy like that.

2. Relaxing views and beautiful gardens.

3. Garden to table. The food.

4. Wine pairings and tasting. Daily. The way of life.

5. Mom and Pop Vineyards.

6. And the Big Dog Vineyards.

Restaurant reviews/recap to come; let's be honest...we ate our fair share of delicious eats.
Cheers.

Rombauer

Napa recap 2: Of course you don't go romping around the vines of Napa without stopping at as many wineries as your body will allow you. Well, in our excursion one of our favorite spots we hit was Rombauer! Coincidentally, Mom loves it too ;)

We enjoyed ourselves while partaking in some of their tastings (they offer a classic or proprietary tasting) and then a self guided tour through the beautiful gardens. One of my favorite reds in the tasting? the Zin!

It was so relaxing overlooking the beautiful gardens while enjoying a bottle of our favorite Chardonnay.

Cheers to a great trip to Rombauer Vineyards. I will DEFINITELY be back.

Oakville Grocery

First post of the Napa recap: It really helped that I had been to Napa before. This time I knew exactly where I wanted to go and had a pretty good idea of where things were. It is also nice going with a crowd of people that are easy to travel with, down for whatever and know a thing or two about the stretch of wineries down 29.

One place we checked out last year and made it a point to return to this year was Oakville Grocery.

It's a fun little market place with fine wines and cheeses, pre-made and made to order snacks, salads and sandwiches, an espresso bar among other things.

We love checking the place out - we usually buy a couple of things to have a "at home happy hour." Now they have this cute local and organic farm stand out front.
Heading to Napa?...check it out :)

Where wine flows like water

Heading back, back to Napa, Napa!

Remember last year? I was totally Chippin' out, finding new treats and some eats!

Well, I just got back from my second Napa trip! I can't wait to fill you in on some of my favorite dinner spots, wineries and our quick day trip to San Fran! Stay tuned.

Rare Review

Hey guys...I have for you the next product found among the Napa Valley travels...

So I found this "hint" water schtuuuff.

I tried the pom-tangerine flavor
[which is on the far left and missing the first bottle on the rack ;)]
It sounded so refreshing and flavorful which is what I was needing to start my day off right (and something that would properly hydrate for a day a wine tasting)!

Smart Snacker weighs-in: Now I am coining this post as a rare review because I'd imagine it will be...I ended up not diggin' this H2O and yes, that's rare!

This was a naturally flavored water with a
zero in all categories...from calories to sugar (nutritional bliss)! However, the flavor of the pom and tangerine was insipid and well, dull!

I hate to say it but it needed a little something MORE. I would rather just have a bottle of regular water sans flavoring. I wonder how the other flavors stand against this one? I won't stop here, I will definitely try another in my future..I can see myself sipping something like this beside a pool...;)

More on Hint Water...

Have you had this H2O before? What's your favorite flavor?

Reality Check

Have you ever had such a great vacation you didn't want to come back to reality? ugh, I am so suffering from that feeling right now. I am definitely not in Napa Valley anymore :( 

My mind is working at a mile a minute...I have so many things to share with my Smart Snackin' blog friends! Where to staaaaart?

Note worthy: I would like to term California as the "land of new food finds!"
A Smart Snackers playground. What a great selection of interesting, organic, all natural, raw, you name it foods. I would move there for the simple fact: there is something new to try everyday!

...So here was my next find!

The name is what really won me over! I LOVE it!

So this my friends is exactly what it says...FIGS in a dark chocolate coat with almonds! Sounds delicious right?

Your Smart Snacker weighs-in: Although it is like a
health-nut meets sweet tooth dream...this bar didn't have the "whole package" for me. It lasted me a good 4 days (which I didn't mind); it is something that I could take a bite and be done with.

It satisfied the sweet tooth, but the whole thing would have been too much.

As for the flavor profile? A touch of tart cherry, along with silky dark chocolate and crunchy almonds. As is reads, "All natural, low fat, high fiber and high in antioxidants!" yes please!

The Skinny: as per the label...1 bar serving.
150 calories, 4g fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 28g carb, 4g fiber, 19g sugar, 2g protein, 6% calcium, 2% iron

Guys don't get me wrong...this is definitely a snack-worthy bar!
Now get out to Napa and find one ;) We wish...right?!

 

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